04 June 2005

There were angry scenes today outside the court where a man was charged with the murder of Robert McCartney.

Families and friends of the accused, Terence Davison (49), and of 36-year-old James McCormick, who was charged with the attempted murder of Mr McCartney's friend Brendan Devine, were outraged after it emerged there was not enough room inside the courtroom at Belfast's Magistrate's Court.

Davison was remanded in custody until July 1, charged with the killing on January 30.

McCormick was charged with the attempted murder of Mr Devine on the same night. He was also remanded in custody until July 1.

The unrest erupted after police at the court door refused entry to over 20 supporters of the accused, saying the court was filled to capacity.

However, the family members were outraged to learn that members of the media were going to be allowed in. A tense stand-off followed, with family members of the accused blocking the entrance so the Press could not go into the court.

The Resident Magistrate ruled that only a handful of Press members could cover the arraignment, to allow six more members of the defendants' supporters to take the six remaining seats in the court.

Earlier, the huge crowd assembled outside Court No 6 watched as the sisters and partner of Robert McCartney filed into the courtroom to see the two men being charged.

Mr McCartney (33) was beaten and stabbed after he was dragged out of Magennis's Bar in Belfast city centre on January 30.

Police have said they believe that members of the Provisional IRA were involved in the murder, which has attracted world-wide attention.

One of Mr McCartney's sisters, Catherine, said earlier: "We hope it will lead to further arrests because there were more than two people involved."